Hull Daily Mail

‘Humiliated’ mum was ‘thrown out’ of store

WOMAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING RULES SAYS STAFF WERE RUDE

- By JOANNA LOVELL joanna.lovell@reachplc.com @H5YJO

A HULL mum said she was left humiliated and made to feel “like a criminal” after she was “thrown out” of The Range for breaching a lockdown rule.

The mum-of-two from east Hull visited the Clough Road store on Saturday morning, having travelled there with her partner and queued up for more than an hour to get in.

The 22-year-old was shopping on behalf of an elderly relative, while her partner was shopping at the same time for items for their family.

However, despite queuing separately and shopping separately, the mum, who does not wish to be named, says she was “thrown out” of the shop while being shouted at in front of dozens of shoppers, because The Range only allows one person per household in the store at any one time, under new lockdown rules.

The mum said she was “spoken to like a child” and told to leave the store after it was noticed the woman, who does not drive, had arrived in the same car as her partner.

She said: “I visited the store, waiting in the long line for about an hour. There was staff at the door that told everyone that it was one person out of each car.

“I got out the car with another person due to me not being able to drive. I was shopping for my elderly family members as well as for myself. They cannot get out the house due to being vulnerable.

“My partner was shopping for himself. We entered the store separately and went to the other ends of the store.

“He went to the paint as we needed it for our living room because we had a leak and it ruined all our walls and I went to the art and crafts section.

“I was met my a very very rude lady in a dark blue blazer jacket. She told me I was talking to someone in the store and I’d been seen getting out of the same car as him.

“I assured her that I was nowhere near him and that I was shopping for the elderly and was just getting my things and leaving. She was very arrogant and rude towards me and told me to ‘get out now.’

“I tried to tell her that I didn’t drive and that I was only sharing a car with someone I live with but would be nowhere near each other in store.

“She still proceeded to escort me out the store with a raised voice, telling me to get out and that was the rules.”

The mum said she was left humiliated and embarrasse­d, and said her partner was then asked to leave too.

She added: “This left me feeling so embarrasse­d as she spoke down to me like a child. She carried on shouting at me while I was out the store in front of 20 to 30 people who were waiting in line.

“I’m totally humiliated. I suffer with anxiety too. She escorted me out the store like I’d stolen something. Made me look an idiot.

“I also saw an NHS staff member be turned away due to getting out the same car as someone.

“I understand these are the rules, but what about the people who don’t drive who are also shopping for multiple people to help out?

“In a time when we are meant to stick together and help out we are all left to feel stupid and embarrasse­d.

“I get these are the rules and respect their decisions, but I also went to B&M straight after and wasn’t questioned why we were together. We were greeted with smiles and treated very respectful­ly.

“My partner was made to get the items he had in hand and to leave right away. He wasn’t allowed back to collect the rest of his things he needed.

“I never complain either I’m usually too shy. But this time I was beyond embarrasse­d and left feeling like I’m a criminal.”

It comes after people queued for more than an hour on Saturday morning to buy fire pits, curtains and compost during lockdown.

The Range has been contacted for comment.

 ??  ?? The Range in Clough Road
The Range in Clough Road

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